Youth Action for Rural Africa Inc

The
Computer and Entrepreneurship Development Center (CEDC) is a business incubator
type platform that will provide access to a variety of programs geared towards
technology, entrepreneurship and the implementation of sustainable development
projects. We believe that the key to alleviating Africa’s myriad crisis is empowering
its citizens with information for development and providing them with a
platform to transform ideas into projects that can be implemented in target
sites. To be successful, our center will focus on three main areas, which
include: literacy, empowerment, and access.

: Our literacy programs begin with a selection and
assessment process to determine the needs of the target population. Our
computer curriculum is broken down in three levels: elementary, intermediate
and advance. This way, participants are placed in the right classes based on
their needs and qualifications. The elementary section is for participants who
have never been exposed to computers. The goal upon completion is for
participants to become savvy with the computer, uses, terminology and basic
applications. Upon completion, participants can get into the intermediate
course. This section involves learning the fundamental operations and concepts
of the computer which includes learning the MS Office suite and other related
applications. The advanced section offers computer literacy in a professional
setting. Participants will learn about applications used in the office setting
as well as the ethical and social responsibilities of using a computer.
Empowerment occurs through entrepreneurshimodern and international entrepreneurshithey get the support needed to succeed in their respective businesses.

At
CEDC we will also seek to host a variety of initiatives which include job
fairs, job training workshops and networking events for investors, entrepreneurs
and the professional community. We also plan to host business plan competitions
where we will provide small grants of not more than $100 for qualifying
businesses. Qualifiers will be opportune to join our advance level
entrepreneurship course where they can get additional funding for their
businesses through our microfinance program to start up their business.

At
maturity of our program, we will create a technology center for computer
repairs and maintenance as an after school program for high school students. Our
center will also be open to registered members of the public who wish to use the
computer and/or the internet during our community hours. Classes will be held
from 8am – 2pm then community hours will be from 4pm – 8pm. We also plan to
offer financial aid assistance to participants who have expressed interest in
our courses but are unable to make the pay, this way; they will volunteer at
our center upon completion of the program.